Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2699 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,017 out of 2699
  2. Mixed: 474 out of 2699
  3. Negative: 208 out of 2699
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. jamesweber
    Nov 12, 2014
    10
    This game should definitely be considered GOTY. I don't know if that's an actual status or award, but it certainly deserves it! When this gets the prize I'm going to bump **** In My Pants super loud!
  2. Gamingking007
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing!!! From beginning to the end this game had me hooked! I am an obsessed fan of the lord of the rings movies and was really not expecting such an immersive game which expands on the lord of the rings saga! The presentation, story and gameplay were all out of this world. I believe this is the best lord of the rings game there is and would recommend it to anyone who is aThis game is amazing!!! From beginning to the end this game had me hooked! I am an obsessed fan of the lord of the rings movies and was really not expecting such an immersive game which expands on the lord of the rings saga! The presentation, story and gameplay were all out of this world. I believe this is the best lord of the rings game there is and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the series and if not to anyone who loves fantasy rpg.This is the best rpg of the year so far!thanks monolith you guys rock!… Expand
  3. ravennoir
    Dec 3, 2014
    10
    Just finished the story for this and its great. Good pace and game mechanics. Ill be continuing to play to get 100% completion, and might even replay it from the start :). Highly recommend. Lets hope for a sequel
  4. Rylos77
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    After reading some of the user reviews for this game I have been left scratching my head. People who complain about only having one chance when it comes to the captains and such, obviously have no idea what the whole nemesis system is all about. this game is designed to make you stop and think before you take on some of the higher ranking uruks. And those who complain about there onlyAfter reading some of the user reviews for this game I have been left scratching my head. People who complain about only having one chance when it comes to the captains and such, obviously have no idea what the whole nemesis system is all about. this game is designed to make you stop and think before you take on some of the higher ranking uruks. And those who complain about there only being orcs to kill, i laugh and say, you do realize your in the lotr universe rite? were you expecting half naked faeries and cupcake s&*tting unicorns?. That being said, this game is a whole lot of fun. it has a bit of a learning curve as we are not used to playing a game as clever as this. rushing in to a battle is a sure fire way to get killed and rank up the enemy. Not to mention that you may also be being hunted. the fear of thinking, its ok, im only taking on a level 5 captain, just to be ambushed by your rank 12 nemesis mid battle is very real. its a great game that manages to make your palms sweat when your about to die, forcing you ask yourself, would i rather flee and be called a coward by the orcs? ( and they do call you a coward ) or do i risk letting another captain level up making him tougher to defeat down the track?
    This is a must play for those who crave a deep gaming experience, the rabbit hole is deep indeed with this one. Happy hunting.    … Expand
  5. Gamer44
    Oct 7, 2014
    10
    Shadow of Mordor is an incredible gaming expierence and one of the best games I have played in 2014.

    The gameplay is superb and the combat is fluid it has an outstanding story that keeps you engaged. The graphics and the world is outstanding and the detail is just incredible. This is truly a great open world expierence and one that will keep you entertained for hours upon hours. If    Shadow of Mordor is an incredible gaming expierence and one of the best games I have played in 2014.

    The gameplay is superb and the combat is fluid it has an outstanding story that keeps you engaged. The graphics and the world is outstanding and the detail is just incredible.

    This is truly a great open world expierence and one that will keep you entertained for hours upon hours. If you loved Assassins creed then this is a game for you.    … Expand
  6. DSouls_guy
    Apr 30, 2015
    10
    Wow, why didn't I play this sooner. At first I wasn't sure if shadow of Mordor was a good purchase, but all that doubt went to rest when I started playing this adventure. The graphics, music, combat, voice acting is all amazing. The story is well written as well, there are a few problems in shadow of Mordor some times the frame rate can get jumpy but nothing game breaking. Over all this isWow, why didn't I play this sooner. At first I wasn't sure if shadow of Mordor was a good purchase, but all that doubt went to rest when I started playing this adventure. The graphics, music, combat, voice acting is all amazing. The story is well written as well, there are a few problems in shadow of Mordor some times the frame rate can get jumpy but nothing game breaking. Over all this is the best action RPG game to be on the ps4 besides bloodborne.… Expand
  7. AududonSlayer
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    This game is great. I do not get to play many games anymore. Many seem unimaginative and do not capture my interest. I find myself wanting to play this game all the time which to me is a sign of a great game. Highly recommend for those still on the fence.
  8. billgates0904
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    This is no doubt the best LOTR game ever. The game creators have put lots of love in it, and it reflects on how fun and amazing this game is. Do yourself a favor and go buy this game.
  9. trollkiller
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    The first game that truly deserves the moniker "next gen", The nemesis system alone may revolutionize PVe play in ways no game has done in years. With shades of AC parkour and Arkham Batman combat, the combat is challenging but rewarding. The side missions are rich in Tolkien lore and really add depth to the story. There are a few frustrating moments when the gameplay might glitch and notThe first game that truly deserves the moniker "next gen", The nemesis system alone may revolutionize PVe play in ways no game has done in years. With shades of AC parkour and Arkham Batman combat, the combat is challenging but rewarding. The side missions are rich in Tolkien lore and really add depth to the story. There are a few frustrating moments when the gameplay might glitch and not respond so you...die. But overall its by far the best game so far this year… Expand
  10. mtlevan
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    This is a huge Game of the Year contender. I find myself struggling to get sucked into and pull value out of games these days, but I started playing Shadow of Mordor last night and only stopped 11 hours later. I haven't done that since I was in college, and all I can think about is going home later to keep playing. The nemesis system is really incredible. It's the first time I feel likeThis is a huge Game of the Year contender. I find myself struggling to get sucked into and pull value out of games these days, but I started playing Shadow of Mordor last night and only stopped 11 hours later. I haven't done that since I was in college, and all I can think about is going home later to keep playing. The nemesis system is really incredible. It's the first time I feel like someone has truly made a game feel "next-gen" and innovative. Congratulations Monolith - you guys made the LOTR game I've wanted since I was a little kid. I really hope people purchase and support this game.… Expand
  11. hollowfication
    Oct 8, 2014
    10
    oh my god i played it last night i only did like 3 mission i loved it i keep trying to takeout most of captain i keep dying it was headache but fact is fun

    felt like bit like assassin creed but fact is it mad i love Nemesis system it awesome wraith ability is cool just hope i get to control orc soon
  12. HardFinn
    Nov 20, 2014
    10
    Exceeded my expectations by far. One of the few games that balances the main story and open world well. The games selling point was the Nemesis system which was cool but definitely not one of the standout parts of the game. The most rewarding part of the game is combat. Most of the time you will feel like you're in that first battle scene of 300...tearing through enemies. Games likeExceeded my expectations by far. One of the few games that balances the main story and open world well. The games selling point was the Nemesis system which was cool but definitely not one of the standout parts of the game. The most rewarding part of the game is combat. Most of the time you will feel like you're in that first battle scene of 300...tearing through enemies. Games like Assassin's Creed have a few death animations where as Shadow of Mordor never feels like they're recycled.

    The story is decent overall (better if you're a Tolkien nerd). Its definitely better than War in the North. I don't have many complaints but the combat does start off hard and then with the addition of new skills and runes it becomes significantly easier. I'm giving the game 9/10 because I felt the end fight with my nemesis was anti-climatic and too easy. Its not a perfect game but definitely one of the best of the year!    … Expand
  13. Ghoster
    May 10, 2015
    10
    Didn't expect much from this game because I'm not really fan of genre. Story is good but nothing special, but gameplay is what make this game awesome. Good fighting, level up and upgrading character. Side missions are repetitive, but it's very fun to kill orcs and warchiefs. There are few things which could be improved, but in luck of good games lately it deserve 10+ !!!
  14. JohnnyBeGood
    Oct 9, 2014
    10
    The game is absolutely incredible. I had heard it was great, but after about 3 hours, I wasn't feeling it. I was struggling with it at first. I honestly was disappointed. Then something suddenly clicked, and I absolutely love it. The combat is amazing. It's fluid, smooth, easy to learn, yet difficult to master. It's pretty much perfect. The upgrades are extensive (for both your characterThe game is absolutely incredible. I had heard it was great, but after about 3 hours, I wasn't feeling it. I was struggling with it at first. I honestly was disappointed. Then something suddenly clicked, and I absolutely love it. The combat is amazing. It's fluid, smooth, easy to learn, yet difficult to master. It's pretty much perfect. The upgrades are extensive (for both your character and your weapons. Nemesis system is really really really cool and if they don't put it in more games, I'll be disappointed. Newbies be warned, it's a pretty challenging game. It's certainly not easy. But it 's refreshing to see a game that makes challenges you and doesn't cater to thick-skulled neanderthals like games have been lately. The voice acting is absolutely top notch. Troy Baker's performance as Talion rivals his portrayal of Joel in TLoU. Every voice actor I've heard so far has done an outstanding job, especially the ones for Ratbag and Gollum (I had to look it up because apparently Andy Serkis didn't do Gollum; the man they got to fill his shoes did a spectacular job). You'd be dumb not to pick this game up. The graphics are amazing, the orc characters models look unreal, the environments look stunning.9.5/10 for sure, but I'll round up.… Expand
  15. Moonraver005
    Oct 10, 2014
    10
    This game fell off my radar for a while; but now that I've picked it up I have been pleasantly surprised. Truly enjoyable from the beginning and a nice addition to the Middle Earth Universe. I ask everyone to give it a shot.
  16. kaldon
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    The game is incredibly fun, combat is engaging and you can kick some serious ass, but at times it can be unforgiving if you get a certain combo of boss NPCs. Graphically it is one of the most beautiful games I have ever seen. It is the most Nextgen title thus far. I highly recommend it I have it on PC and PS4 with the majority of my time played on the PS4. I haven't run into any bugs thusThe game is incredibly fun, combat is engaging and you can kick some serious ass, but at times it can be unforgiving if you get a certain combo of boss NPCs. Graphically it is one of the most beautiful games I have ever seen. It is the most Nextgen title thus far. I highly recommend it I have it on PC and PS4 with the majority of my time played on the PS4. I haven't run into any bugs thus far, it is really well done, Monolith did a very nice job.… Expand
  17. Vertran187
    Oct 9, 2014
    10
    Fantastic game a true gem after a disappointing year this game was pure fun great abilities fluid combat unique story line and some unique features. GOTY so far who would have thought.
  18. memtndude1
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing. The combat reminds you of Batman and the open world gameplay reminds you a bit of the Assassin's Creed series. It is very easy to get deeply involved in the side missions and hunting captains etc. and forgetting about the main story altogether. The graphics are pretty good. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes good action games or LOTR. You don't need toThis game is amazing. The combat reminds you of Batman and the open world gameplay reminds you a bit of the Assassin's Creed series. It is very easy to get deeply involved in the side missions and hunting captains etc. and forgetting about the main story altogether. The graphics are pretty good. I highly recommend this game to anyone who likes good action games or LOTR. You don't need to be a fan of both to enjoy this game.… Expand
  19. adrenilinmatt
    Oct 3, 2014
    10
    What can I say, for a game I had doubts about, I've been surprised plenty. Destiny came out not long ago, and well, all I have to say whilst mentioning destiny and this game in the same paragraph is that I wish the sales for destiny and shadow of mordor could swap. This game deserves massive success so much more than destiny. It truly lives up to the hype, fantastic current gen title,bestWhat can I say, for a game I had doubts about, I've been surprised plenty. Destiny came out not long ago, and well, all I have to say whilst mentioning destiny and this game in the same paragraph is that I wish the sales for destiny and shadow of mordor could swap. This game deserves massive success so much more than destiny. It truly lives up to the hype, fantastic current gen title,best I've played yet, I own xbox one version, which is no different to the ps4; however I imagine both versions of the game are as fabulous as eachother. How could they not be. If this game doesn't atleast get GOTY nominated, I'll be amazed. All hail middle earth, all hail inspired thoughtful games such as this. They are few and far between these days.… Expand
  20. Pureray
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    This game is well worth the money, it doesn't matter if you're a LoTR fan or not, you'll enjoy this game regardless. It's a lot better playing it for yourself then it is to watch someone else unless your doing it to watch their stories within the nemesis system, which is awesome. The graphics are simply splendid to gaze upon from above your forge tower. The combat is just satisfyinglyThis game is well worth the money, it doesn't matter if you're a LoTR fan or not, you'll enjoy this game regardless. It's a lot better playing it for yourself then it is to watch someone else unless your doing it to watch their stories within the nemesis system, which is awesome. The graphics are simply splendid to gaze upon from above your forge tower. The combat is just satisfyingly brutal, and you have that freedom to do whatever the hell you want in Mordor.

    I highly recommend Shadow of Mordor, you'll be surprised on how much you'll enjoy it.    … Expand
  21. sbkw1983
    Nov 19, 2014
    10
    Easily one of the most addictive Single Player experiences in years. And to top it off, it's got a great and original narrative set in Middle-Earth, and which faithfully bridges the gap between Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

    For many years now, I have longed for an AAA caliber Single Player game about Middle-Earth, and preferably having to do - at    Easily one of the most addictive Single Player experiences in years. And to top it off, it's got a great and original narrative set in Middle-Earth, and which faithfully bridges the gap between Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

    For many years now, I have longed for an AAA caliber Single Player game about Middle-Earth, and preferably having to do - at least in part - with Sauron and The Rings of Power.

    For many years, I was let down - until now. So thanks to Monolith, I now have the game I've always wanted.

    Two caveats:

    - The PS4 version tends to crash occasionally, but ironically, with less frequency as the narrative progresses.
    - J.R.R. Tolkien purists may not enjoy part or all of this game for reasons I cannot comprehend, but valid in their views nonetheless.

    ---------------------------------------------

    Verdict: 9.5 / 10 - Worth every penny. I just wish that there would have been either an official strategy guide or an art book of the game available for sale, because this is definitely a contender for Game of the Year in my books.

    ----------------------------------------------

    P.S. - UBISoft, please take note of this game. It resembles Assassin's Creed (of which I am a hardcore fan of) in so many ways, and definitely more than any other third party game out there.

    P.P.S. - Here's the bad news for you, UBISoft: Monolith has managed to beat you at your own game by not trying to adhere too much to specific things such as an annual release window, and graphics/polish over gameplay mechanics/fun factor (among other things). You can do better - I believe in you.    … Expand
  22. Sgtkeebler
    Oct 1, 2014
    10
    I love this game so much. The action and fighting are so amazing the controls are extremely responsive. there are some really tiny glitches but you will hardly notice them because you will be so immersed in the game. I love the Rangers in lord of the rings they are my favorite characters. There are some scenes that I find pretty funny, and the acting and voice overs are done so well II love this game so much. The action and fighting are so amazing the controls are extremely responsive. there are some really tiny glitches but you will hardly notice them because you will be so immersed in the game. I love the Rangers in lord of the rings they are my favorite characters. There are some scenes that I find pretty funny, and the acting and voice overs are done so well I sometimes forget im in a game and not watching the movie. This is such an amazing game well recommended to your game collection.… Expand
  23. BBoondocks
    Dec 30, 2014
    10
    To me, Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor is the game of the year for 2014. Set in a fantasy world, made famous by the Lord Of The Rings books/movies, it is a combat orianted open world, action-adventure game where you control a hero, named Tallion, who was murdered along with his family, but got brought back from the afterlife by a mysterious elf, whose ghost powers give you incredibleTo me, Middle-earth: Shadow Of Mordor is the game of the year for 2014. Set in a fantasy world, made famous by the Lord Of The Rings books/movies, it is a combat orianted open world, action-adventure game where you control a hero, named Tallion, who was murdered along with his family, but got brought back from the afterlife by a mysterious elf, whose ghost powers give you incredible strength. It takes some great ideas from other video game classics, like the Batman Arkham series or the Assassin's Creed, but it's also original enough, with some awesome ideas, to make it a classic on it's own as well. One of these ideas is the Nemesis System, which basically allows you to play the game as YOU want it. You can choose to hunt down and massacre all the orc captains and warchiefs or you can brand them and create your own orc army. The story is also very cool, a revenge story with some fun, flamboyant characters, who help the generally dark story to be interesting enough to play through. The main focus is on fighting, Tallion is a master of brutalizing enemies with his sword, his dagger and with his bow. You can upgrade your moves as you progress, by the end making Tallion a close to unbeatable warrior. Killing warchiefs is not always easy though, as some of them are combat masters with very few weaknesses (these weaknesses you can find out by gaining intel from other orcs and then use that info to kill them - some are scared of fire, monsters, betrayal, etc and by realizing them you can execute them easier). It is also a sandbox game, so you can go around the world freely, whether on foot or by riding beasts, and choose side missions or main story missions in any order you wish. There are also plenty of things to collect and challenges to complete. As I mentioned before, the fighting is very similar to the Batman Arkham games, except it is a LOT more violent. The finishing moves and the executions are always satisfying and you can also use the environment to help you kill your opponents. You can also use stealth to mix things up or destroy orcs with caragors. The free running is a lot like we got used to in the Assassin's Creed series, it is smooth and easy, and Tallion can not die by falling, thanks to his elf powers. So all in all, this a must buy for everyone, I haven't played a game this great and addictive in a long time.… Expand
  24. Dinizap9
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    The game is excellent and very well optimized. I'm a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's work in general and I can say that this game did not disappoint me. Sure, he's practically an Assassin's Creed: Middle-earth, but it is an excellent game. I do not regret one bit of bought it. Perhaps the only downside is the length of the game, at least the main story, which is comprisedThe game is excellent and very well optimized. I'm a huge fan of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's work in general and I can say that this game did not disappoint me. Sure, he's practically an Assassin's Creed: Middle-earth, but it is an excellent game. I do not regret one bit of bought it. Perhaps the only downside is the length of the game, at least the main story, which is comprised of only 20 missions and you can finish it very quickly if you want. 10/10… Expand
  25. Pendragon197779
    Oct 5, 2014
    10
    Best game of the decade in my opinion. Sure there are a few minor flaws, but there have been many games with just as many or more flaws that still got a 10 rating. They took the best things from many good games and made something new and exciting. 40 plus hours into the game after beating all missions and game, and I am still enjoying it.
  26. Pickle
    Sep 30, 2014
    10
    What a fantastic game this is, aside from the obvious problems that you can begin to notice in the beginning of the game, there's always somethings that shines lurking around as soon as you start feeling bored or tired of the outgoing level of little to no monotony that the game offers.
    The irony is that the game doesn't have that much to say in the first place, that being said, it's    What a fantastic game this is, aside from the obvious problems that you can begin to notice in the beginning of the game, there's always somethings that shines lurking around as soon as you start feeling bored or tired of the outgoing level of little to no monotony that the game offers.
    The irony is that the game doesn't have that much to say in the first place, that being said, it's difficult to really begin to explain what is so beautiful and wonderful about the combat system, the "nemesis" system, as well as just the general idea of exploration and the feel and vibe that the open world leaves to you. That's where the beauty of Shadow of Mordor really lies ahead, within the combination of the tree main aspects of the game, the game ends up being truly something special and worthwhile, started playing since yesterday, haven't looked a day older since then, truly a wonderful experience.    … Expand
  27. janeausten69
    Dec 16, 2014
    10
    Absolutely loved this game. I got a PS4 specifically for this game and do not regret it. It's basically Arkham Series combat, AC stealth and an open world environment. The game does get a little repetitive, but that didn't bother me. The gameplay was fun so I didn't mind doing similar things over and over. I usually don't write reviews but I've noticed a lot of poorly written negativeAbsolutely loved this game. I got a PS4 specifically for this game and do not regret it. It's basically Arkham Series combat, AC stealth and an open world environment. The game does get a little repetitive, but that didn't bother me. The gameplay was fun so I didn't mind doing similar things over and over. I usually don't write reviews but I've noticed a lot of poorly written negative reviews. For those who are criticizing the combat and nemesis system, I don't believe you truly understood the game. I'm assuming that you wrote your reviews after only playing an hour or two, or just flat out didn't understand the game. To me, this is a definite game of the year contender. The only negative I found was the final boss battle. It was definitely anti-climatic. Other than that an excellent game. Can't wait for the DLC and hopefully a sequel too.… Expand
  28. ForeverFalling
    Oct 4, 2014
    10
    There have been some great LOTR games and there have been some mediocre ones too. Shadow of Mordor, thankfully, falls into the former. This is a must play, even if you aren't a huge LOTR fan. If you are on the fence, watch some gameplay. Obviously Ignore the attention seeking trolls that are giving ridiculously low scores and saying the game is bad.
  29. Jitomate
    Oct 2, 2014
    10
    Gameplay mechanics and combat are finely polished and highly enjoyable. Monolith has managed to capture the LORT world perfectly and paired it with Batman AC like gameplay. This is a must play if you're a fan of either, but the game stands out on it's own regardless if the obvious influences those games had on it. Overall, an amazing game.
  30. St4rk
    Oct 19, 2014
    10
    By far my favourite PS4 game I have played since launch. A real jewel in the rough and a must play game for any fan of the sandbox/open world genre. Even if you aren't a fan of the LotR franchise this is a must own, form combat to graphics and scenery this game is just amazing. They've taken so many element of other games, Batman and Assassins Creed and perfected it and not to mention theBy far my favourite PS4 game I have played since launch. A real jewel in the rough and a must play game for any fan of the sandbox/open world genre. Even if you aren't a fan of the LotR franchise this is a must own, form combat to graphics and scenery this game is just amazing. They've taken so many element of other games, Batman and Assassins Creed and perfected it and not to mention the nemesis system which works so well and really adds some depth to the game. So far my no 1 for game of the year and there are only a handful of other titles I'd say can compete this year.… Expand
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

19
#19 Best PS4 Game of 2014
7
#7 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
5
#5 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 85 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 77 out of 85
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 85
  3. Negative: 0 out of 85
  1. Thunderbolt
    Jun 12, 2015
    90
    For people who are alright with playing fifteen hours or so of Helm’s Deep-style carnage, Shadow of Mordor is a delight – and even for people who couldn’t care less about Lord of the Rings, the exciting combat and unique Nemesis System are more than enough to make the experience worthwhile.
    Read full review
  2. The Digital Fix
    Dec 24, 2014
    90
    As a gamer you owe it to yourself to experience Shadow of Mordor if not for anything else other than the Nemesis system because playing a single-player game never made you feel less alone.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Dec 13, 2014
    75
    Batman’s Creed: Shadow of Mordor – Monolith’s inspirations are so obvious that you could call their game a rip-off. Its greatest sin though is the fact that it fails to vary gameplay the way Assassin’s Creed or Batman do and offers almost nothing apart from killing stuff and playing with the Nemesis system (which, I admit, has its moments). I got so tired with its repetitiveness that I wouldn’t have finished the game if I didn’t have to. [Dec 2014, p.48]
See all critic reviews »